Lantana plant named ‘LADY BROOKS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lantana  cultivar named ‘LADY BROOKS’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive light lavender flowers and a low growing, trailing habit. The new variety is a  Lantana,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lantana montevidensis.

Variety denomination: ‘LADY BROOKS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lantana cultivar is a product of a chance discovery by the inventor, Luen Miller. The new variety was discovered as a naturally occurring single branch mutation of an unnamed, unpatented variety of Lantana montevidensis.

Mr. Miller discovered the new variety in a commercial planting of the parent variety at his nursery in Royal Oaks, Calif. during the March of 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LADY BROOKS’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a commercial nursery in Aug. 17, 1999. Subsequently, several generations have been produced, and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. During this evaluation period, plants were kept in confidential locations at the inventor's nursery, not accessible to the public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LADY BROOKS’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LADY BROOKS’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LADY BROOKS’ as a new and distinct Lantana cultivar:

-   -   1. Light lavender flower color     -   2. Outwardly spreading plant habit     -   3. Low growing plant habit.     -   4. Lack of seed production.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LADY BROOKS’ are comparable to the parent Lantana montevidensis unpatented. The two Lantana varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘LADY BROOKS’ differs in having lighter colored flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LADY BROOKS’ are comparable to the variety Lantana montevidensis ‘Lord Brooks, filed concurrently (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/999,020). The two Lantana varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘LADY BROOKS’ differs in having lighter colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LADY BROOKS’ are comparable to the commercial variety Lantana sellowiana ‘Monswee’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,626. The two Lantana varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, including the characteristic trailing plant habit. Plants of the new variety ‘LADY BROOKS’, however, have light lavender flowers, whereas flowers of ‘Monswee’ are both lavender and white, on the same plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

FIG. 1: Illustrates in full color a closeup view of flowers of ‘Lady Brooks’, together with its closest comparator, and with the parent variety:

-   -   Flowers of ‘LADY BROOKS’ are the lightest colored flowers in the         center.     -   Flowers of ‘LORD BROOKS’ are the darkest colored flowers on the         left side of the grouping.     -   Flowers of the parent variety Lantana montevidensis are on the         right side of the grouping, with medium lavender colored         flowers.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘LADY BROOKS’ plants grown approximately 30 weeks outdoors in Royal Oaks, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. during the night and from 15° C. to 35° C. during the day. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana montevidensis ‘LADY BROOKS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 6 to 8 days at approximately 15° C. -   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Flat and spreading. -   Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon. -   Height: 12 cm. -   Plant spread: 45 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Branching characteristics: Freely Branches at each internode with     two lateral branches. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 38 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.3 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 12. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round.         -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown 199C.         -   Texture.—Pubescent, becoming scaly with age.         -   Strength.—Soft and very flexible when young, woody and             slightly brittle with age. -   Internode length: 2 to 4 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 16-22 per branch.         -   Average length.—2.8 cm.         -   Average width.—2.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Broad deltate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrated.         -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture of lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green N144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. Texture: Slightly Pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Continuous Flowers in Warm Climate. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 28. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Corymb. -   Rate of flower opening: 4 to 5 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 8-10 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self cleaning. -   Overall inflorescence size:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.0 cm. -   Individual flower size:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm including corolla tube.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Squared tubular.         -   Length.—1.0 cm including corolla tube.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 75A. -   Corolla:     -   -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 4. Length: 0.5 cm. Width: 0.5. Shape:             Salverform. Aspect: Slightly cupped with a long slender             tube. Margin: Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 75B.             Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 75C. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Purple 75B. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple             75C.         -   Throat/tube.—Color: Interior: Near RHS White N155B. Exterior             Near Purple 76C, with darker shading near Purple 77D.             Texture: Smooth.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Form: 5 Fused Sepals. Length: 0.3 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Sepal shape: 5 Fused Sepals Form a Tube.             Sepal margin: Fused. Sepal texture: Smooth. Sepal color:             Upper surface: Green 137B. Lower surface: Green 137B. -   Flower bracts/inflorescence bracts:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid.         -   Aspect.—Cupped.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—All surfaces glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS 137B all surfaces. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Average 2.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—About 25 degrees.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Flower fragrance.—Mild.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—4.         -   Filament length.—0.1 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS N77A. -   Pollen: Not observed. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1, total length 0.25 cm, all parts             compressed and indistinguishable.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seed: Not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Lantana have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 0 to 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘LADY BROOKS’ as herein illustrated and described. 